Cape Father's Day: Following in dad's footsteps

Sunday

Jun 21, 2015 at 2:00 AMJun 21, 2015 at 6:06 AM

By Kerri Kelleherkkelleher@capecodonline.com

Near the corner of Ocean and Main streets in Hyannis, the red-and-blue striped pole in front of McLean’s Barber Shop serves as a beacon for those in need of a trim or a shave. Inside, father-son team Stan and Stan McLean can be found cutting hair and reminiscing, most days from 7 to 5.

“When I was younger we couldn’t work together,” Stan Jr. said, “but as you get older you learn to accept each other and agree to disagree.”

Stan Jr., 60, joined the shop 14 years ago to ease his father’s workload and to ensure that the shop’s 94-year-old legacy lives on.

Stan Sr., 87, has been cutting hair since 1947. He inherited the business from his father, who opened the shop in 1923. The shop's wood-paneled walls mark its extensive history, with photos, plaques, and newspaper clippings as its decor.

“I’ve got no worries,” McLean Sr. said, as he brushed the hair trimmings off the shoulder of a customer. Both Stans have the same birthday, Feb. 15, and Stan Sr. refers to his son as his best birthday gift. "It's great, I'm happy to have him work with me."

For Father's Day this year, the McLeans plan to keep it casual with a cookout. "Just so the family can be together," Stan Jr. said.

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When attorney Elisa Zawadzkas first started practicing law, those around Orleans District Court nicknamed her “shadow,” because she could always be found following closely behind her father, attorney Michael Zawadzkas.

At Elisa's first trial, the judge had to remind Michael that he couldn’t assist his daughter. Michael was sitting right behind her, quietly advising her to object to a certain piece of information.

“I couldn’t ask for a better boss,” Elisa said.

Elisa has worked at her father's law firm in Orleans for almost 10 years. She worked her way up, Michael said, starting as an intern and eventually becoming a partner three years ago.

“It was never the plan,” Elisa said about working with her father. While both Elisa and Michael work on a variety of cases, Elisa specializes in family law, while her father specializes in car accident cases. While the two butt heads every now and again, they get along very well in and out of the office, Michael said.

"Working together has allowed us to provide a better service to our clients,” he said.

Michael, who’s been practicing law for 41 years, has also been able to get some much deserved vacation time with Elisa's help in the office.

“He's able to spend more time in Naples, Florida,” she said.

The two, along with the rest of their family, plan to go out for brunch for Father's Day, Elisa said, and hopefully buy her father a new grill.

“He deserves it," Elisa said. "He’s had confidence in me since Day 1.”

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For Drs. Edward and Andrew Nelson, it’s important to remember that it’s not teeth that walk into their dental practice, but rather people.

“My dad has taught me to always put people first,” Andrew said. “I see him do that every day.”

That philosophy has served their Main Street dental office well over the years, Edward said, with loyal patients traveling from as far away as Boston and Cambridge for appointments. Both Nelsons practice general dentistry while Edward, 65, also specializes in prosthetic dentistry.

"We're very similar," Andrew said. "We see each other's patients and it works great."

Andrew, 31, joined the practice a little more than a year ago, and working with his father has been seamless, he said. The only problem is that, with a growing number of patients and two dentists moving around the office, it can get a little crowded.

“We have the same practice philosophies," he said. "Patients tell me all of the time that I sound just like my dad.”

In Father's Days past, the Nelsons have spent the day boating or at the beach. This year, the family will most likely spend it at home and have a cookout, Edward said.

"We'll be land bound but we'll get together."

Edward has been a dentist for nearly 40 years and has operated out of his practice in Osterville since 1984. Although he has no plans to retire, he does hope to one day hand his office over to his son.

“It’s gratifying to me that my son wanted to not only become a dentist but also work with me,” he said. “I can’t say enough how great it is.”